Little Britain, London

It is not correct, as often said, that the name comes from a medieval Breton enclave, or a possession of the Dukes of Brittany. It in fact refers to one Robert le Bretoun, who owned houses and tenements here in the 13th century. The street is recorded as Brettonestrete in 1329, as Britten Strete in 1547, and as Lyttell Bretton in 1602. Booksellers dominated the street from the mid-16th century, followed by goldsmiths and clothing trades from the mid-18th to the 20th centuries. The offices of the Daily Courant, the first British daily newspaper, in the 1700s were in Little Britain. Benjamin Franklin lived in Little Britain while working at Palmers printers. The conversions of John and Charles Wesley in 1738 are recorded as happening at the house of John Bray at number 12. ==Cultural references==

Little Britain is mentioned in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations as the location of Jaggers' office. It is also mentioned in Waverley by Sir Walter Scott in connection with the publication of a manuscript. Benjamin Franklin mentions in his autobiography that he stayed there on his first visit to London. ==Transport==

The nearest London Underground stations are St Paul's (Central line) and Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines) and the closest mainline railway stations are City Thameslink and Moorgate. ==References==